Bergen County veterans' housing complex opens in Emerson

Bergen County officials and the Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County, the non-profit development arm of the Housing Authority of Bergen County, marks the opening of 14 supportive housing apartments for homeless military veterans.
Mitsu Yasukawa/Northjersey.com

Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, second from left, and Lynn Bartlett, sixth from right, executive director of Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County, lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 14-unit Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing project on Wednesday.(Photo: Mitsu Yasukawa/NorthJersey.com)

EMERSON — At least six months away from a liver transplant and fed up with his landlord, Frank Sgobbo needed a change of scenery.

The 57-year-old Marine Corps veteran, whose illnesses prevent him from working, said he and his Yorkie, Gucci, found what they were looking for: a fully furnished apartment behind American Legion Post 269 on Main Street.

"They call it an apartment," Sgobbo said on Wednesday morning, "but, to me, it's a little house. Besides my children being born, this is the best thing that ever happened to me."

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Frank Sgobbo (age 57), a veteran who served in Beruit in 1980-83 as a Marine, shows the kitchen of his new apartment among the 14 supportive housing apartments for homeless and disabled military veterans, photographed at Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing in Emerson on 10/10/17. Mitsu Yasukawa/NorthJersey.com

Mahadeo Persand (far L), and Gaylord Stephenson (R), from Cort Furniture Rental, set up a couch while staffers from Samsung, set up a flat tv inside of the final apartment among the 14 supportive housing apartments for homeless and disabled military veterans, photographed at Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing in Emerson on 10/10/17. Mitsu Yasukawa/NorthJersey.com

Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, second from left, and Lynn Bartlett, sixth from right, executive director of Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County, lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 14-unit Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing project on Wednesday. Mitsu Yasukawa/NorthJersey.com

Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco (L) gives an address as war veterans and other participants listen during the event outside of the 14 supportive housing apartments for homeless and disabled military veterans, photographed at Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing in Emerson on 10/10/17. Mitsu Yasukawa/NorthJersey.com

Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco (L) gives an address during the event outside of the 14 supportive housing apartments for homeless and disabled military veterans, photographed at Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing in Emerson on 10/10/17. Mitsu Yasukawa/NorthJersey.com

Lynn Bartlett (Center), Executive Director of Housing Development Corporation and Housing Authority of Bergen County speaks during the event outside of the 14 supportive housing apartments for homeless and disabled military veterans, photographed at Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing in Emerson on 10/10/17. Mitsu Yasukawa/NorthJersey.com

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Sgobbo is one of more than a dozen disabled or homeless veterans now living in an apartment complex dedicated just for them – a project that affordable-housing advocates tout as the first of its kind in Bergen County.

In front of hundreds of guests on Wednesday, the Housing Development Corporation of Bergen County — the nonprofit arm of the Housing Authority of Bergen County — officially opened the project, known as Emerson Veterans Supportive Housing, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Speaking to a crowd gathered under a tent in the complex's parking lot, Bergen County Executive James Tedesco praised the project, calling disabled and homeless veterans a priority.

"You took part of your life and put it on hold for us," Tedesco said. "The least we can dois give you a pillow to put your head on and a safe and affordable place to call home."

What makes the $3.1 million project unique is that it is the only affordable-housing project run by the county dedicated to veterans with special needs.

Lynn Bartlett, executive director of the Housing Development Corporation, said the project was primarily financed by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, which provided $2.8 million. The rest was paid for by the Housing Development Corporation.

The apartments are leased to veterans whose household income is less than 50 percent of the area median income.

Funding, labor and materials to furnish the apartments was donated by the American Legion post, the Bergen County Division of Veterans Services, Making-It-Home and corporate and nonprofit sponsors.

The 2.2-acre tract — once a farm — was donated by the American Legion post. The land was worth a small fortune, but Post Commander John Hogan said local veterans no longer had the wherewithal to maintain the property.

Hogan said former state Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk asked if the post would consider a different use for the land when she was the Housing Development Corporation's director of development.

"She put the bug in my ear," Hogan, a Navy veteran of the Korean War, said. "It's a wonderful project, and we're happy the land was put to good use."

Vandervalk's successor, John Biale, said the post's generosity should serve as a template for all veterans organizations.

Biale said planning for the project started three and a half years ago. Construction started in November 2015.